God's Servant 2022

God’s Servant

Intro

According to the church calendar, this time of year is called advent.

We celebrate it for the 4 Sundays leading up to Christmas.

Advent is a time of celebrating the coming of Jesus.

Prior to Jesus’ coming there was a long waiting period for him to come and fulfil the promises made in the OT.

From the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation the story of the Bible tells us the story of Redemption.

The Story of God saving his people from themselves.

The story of God Reuniting himself to the creation that rejected him.

The story of God’s Mercy, Grace, and Peace.

The story of Reconciliation between a holy God and a rebellious creation.

The culmination of God’s Story of Redemption happens at the Incarnation.

That is, the birth of Jesus.

Through Jesus’ birth we get to see God’s promises being kept in sending a savior.

Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection we get to see God’s promise of salvation fulfilled.

Some 700 years before Jesus’ birth a prophet named Isaiah steps on the scene.

And God reveals to Isaiah who this servant will be.

Prophecy is a style of literature that is used primarily in the OT.

It can be a little difficult to understand, but here’s the jist of it.

Israel, God’s People, are either in trouble or about to be in trouble b/c of their rebellion against God and his Commands.

God then raises up a man to proclaim to them the error of their ways.

This man is called a prophet.

God reveals to his prophet why they are in this situation, how long they are going to be there, and how God is going to deliver his people from the mess they have found themselves in.

This man calls them to repent and turn back to God.

Sometimes they do, most of the time they don’t.

Many times these prophets are speaking about how God is going to deliver them from their current situation.

Sometimes, as is the case for today’s scripture, God reveals how he is going to bring about something new.

Someone more amazing than they could ever imagine.

Someone who is going to restore them not simply as a nation, but as those made in the image of God.

God is going to send a servant to restore what is broken.

So what is this Servant going to look like?

Isaiah 42:1–4 CSB

1 “This is my servant; I strengthen him, this is my chosen one; I delight in him. I have put my Spirit on him; he will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry out or shout or make his voice heard in the streets. 3 He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick; he will faithfully bring justice. 4 He will not grow weak or be discouraged until he has established justice on earth. The coasts and islands will wait for his instruction.”

God’s Chosen Servant

To begin we need to know that throughout the OT God calls many people his Servant.

Abraham is called his servant.

Moses is called his servant.

David is called his servant.

In fact in the chapter right before this one, the nation of Israel is called his servant.

And later in this chapter Israel called God’s Servant again.

So we need to know the context of the passage in order to make sense of what is going on.

Here we read that Isaiah is prophesying about a servant that has yet to come.

A servant that hasn’t arrived yet.

This servant is completely and wholly different from every other servants chosen and used by God.

Almost as if he is a culmination of everything they had hoped, longed, and prayed for.

Like he is the true servant that will accomplish all that the other servants couldn't.

Now, This servant is Jesus and we know this because this passage is quoted in Matthew 12:18-21 to be about Jesus.

So what do we know about this servant for Isa 42.

First, we know that he is a Servant.

What does it mean to be a servant?

It means to do the will of the one that you serve.

All those other servants of God, didn’t limit themselves to only doing God’s will.

They all ended up falling short.

They all ended up sinning.

They all ended up trying to mix their will and God’s will together.

But Jesus tells us in Jn 6:38 “38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.”

Jesus came to do the will of the father as the perfect servant of God.

Jn 5:19 “19 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things.”

The Father and the Son are in perfect harmony and unity with one another.

And Therefore Jesus can serve the Father Perfectly.

That’s why God is sending Jesus to accomplish his will because humanity will always mess it up.

There needed to be a perfectly obedient Servant.

And that could only be accomplished by God himself in human flesh.

We also see in this passage that this Servant is strengthened by God himself.

This is a strength that is outside of human capability.

It is supernatural in nature.

There are times in the OT when God’s Spirit comes and aids his servants, but this will be different.

All that this servant will do will be b/c of God’s power

This is self-evident in Jesus because Jesus is God obviously he is strengthened by him.

Jesus was chosen from the beginning of time to be the Servant of God that would restore creation to it’s proper form.

There was never a Plan B.

From creation, Jesus was chosen to set right what people had broken.

We also see that God is Going to delight in his Servant.

Mark 1:11 “11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.””

The Father delights in his Son.

The Father sends Jesus, strengthen’s Jesus, and delights in Jesus.

Now this Servant has a mission to complete when he gets here and what is that mission?

To bring Justice to the nations.

We tend to have too narrow a view on Justice.

Our idea of justice is usually someone getting what’s coming to them.

When we think about justice we tend to think about Retributive justice.

You did something wrong. Now you need to pay for it.

You need to be punished. And justice is not served if you are not penalized by the wrong you did.

Sometimes our justice is based on our own feelings.

Our own circumstances.

Our own upbringings.

So our idea of justice is usually subjective, rather than objective.

On the other hand, God’s idea of justice is always objective.

Rather than being strictly Punitive, God’s justice moves toward Restoration.

God is in the business of justice. But God’s idea of justice is different than our idea of justice. Sure he will repay evil with evil, but the justice he seeks is greater than mere retribution.

God is interested in Restorative Justice.

Not only that but God’s justice is objective.

Meaning it is based on what he declares to be right and wrong.

And he can do that b/c he is the standard against which everything else is measured.

God’s justice is found in his perfect, holy, and incorruptible character.

So God’s justice wants to restore what is broken.

God wants to heal the human heart.

God's justice is grace-filled. God's justice offers an avenue for forgiveness.

No matter how wrong or bad.

That’s what Isaiah is writing in 42:1-4. He is writing about a Perfect Servant who has come to fix what is broken and provide hope for the hopeless.

People can reject his forgiveness.

Can reject salvation that is offered to them.

And they will be held accountable for violating God’s Law.

Or they can accept the grace he has given through Jesus’ sacrifice.

Praise the Lord, that we have a God that would rather restore us than wipe us out.

Because ultimately we deserve the worst because we are the worst.

But God is gracious and kind.

He endures our rebellion and offers us forgiveness.

And that forgiveness can only be extended to us b/c of Jesus the Perfect Servant and his sacrifice.

Restoration and Retribution met on the cross when Jesus sacrificed himself for you and me.

Pause.

The next thing I want us to notice about this description about the servant is found in verse 2.

Is 42.2 “2 He will not cry out or shout or make his voice heard in the streets.”

Jesus didn’t come as a tyrant.

He didn’t come in bravado.

Unlike other kings and rulers, he will not be violent or aggressive. He establishes his Kingdom through service and humility.

His rulership is upside down when compared to the world’s definition of strength and might.

See, Jesus came in power, but he wasn't loud and boisterous about it.

Instead, His very presence makes him known. His presence radiates goodness, holiness, and rightness.

He is the very embodiment of patient endurance, humility, and steadfastness.

He doesn’t need overcompensating swagger, because he has Holy Swagger.

He doesn’t need to prove to you that he is big, powerful, and mighty because of his very presence emanates that reality.

People noticed Jesus, not because of loud rebellion, a cocky attitude, or braggadocious claims.

They noticed him because of his willingness to love, to teach the truth, and have compassion.

One of the characteristics of those who want to establish their own kingdom is that they are willing to crush the weak, sick, hurting, and outcast in order to get ahead.

But this isn’t so for Jesus.

Isaiah 42:3 “3 He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick; he will faithfully bring justice.”

I want you to think about a bruised reed and smoldering wick.

These are descriptions of something at its most vulnerable.

A stiff breeze would destroy both of them.

This is meant to describe people when they are at their absolute lowest.

These are the people who feel crushed and overwhelmed by life, society, and the troubles of this world.

Their spirits are destroyed

Their hearts ache.

All hope seems to be lost.

Those who just lost a loved one.

Received a troubling diagnosis.

Are on the verge of a mental breakdown.

Anxiety rules their heart and mind.

Those contemplating suicide.

Those who feel isolated or alone.

Those who feel like life's biggest disappointment.

The servant is going to show the hurting outcast and downtrodden compassion love and mercy.

Jesus shows you compassion, love, and mercy at your lowest.

A Bruised Reed and a smoldering wick also represent those who are broken and abused. Those who are viewed by society as worthless and unlovable. Those who are without hope.

He isn’t coming to destroy the weak and hurting but to restore them.

He isn’t coming to trample on the depressed or lowly but to bring them hope.

He implements his justice by caring for the oppressed and suffering.

When you are suffering he offers you hope.

When you are depressed he offers you hope.

When you are at the end of your rope, he extends his hand and offers you hope.

“No one is unworthy of help; no one will be treated harshly or as unimportant and expendable.”

He cares about those who are outcast and hurting b/c they are people.

And Jesus cares about people because they are valuable. They are valuable b/c they are his.

He cares for the broken. He cares for the helpless. He comes in meekness and love to bring justice to those crushed by injustices. He comes to put right all that is wrong.

He does so through comfort and care. Through love and compassion. When you are about to break Jesus brings you comfort.

You are not just a number.

You are not a nameless face.

You are cherished and loved by the One True King.

And I know that we have a lot of people in our church, our families, and our community that are sick, broken, or hurting.

But I want you to know that we have a Savior that loves us, sees us, and knows us.

He doesn’t want to break us.

He doesn’t want to take advantage of us.

He wants to hold us.

Jesus doesn’t want to break the bruised reed.

Rather he would stand there and hold it closely until it heals.

Until it is restored.

Jesus doesn’t want to blow out the wick.

Rather, he cups his hands around the flame and stokes it to bring it’s strength back.

When we are at our lowest Jesus is there for us.

He is calling out to us to trust in him.

Matthew 11:28-30 “28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””

He wants to provide rest for the weary soul.

He wants to take us and carry us along.

He wants us to know that he is gentle, humble, and kind.

He also wants us to know that he sees us.

He knows our struggles.

He sympathizes with us.

He weeps and mourns with us.

He will not leave us or forsake us.

And that when the troubles of this world sneak into our lives, we can rest assured that he has overcome the world.

That he is the conquering king.

The overcomer who is humble in spirit and gentle in love.

Isaiah 42.4 “4 He will not grow weak or be discouraged until he has established justice on earth. The coasts and islands will wait for his instruction.””

Here is some of the best news.

Jesus won’t stop extending love to people as long as they continue to accept him.

He will not grow tired or discouraged until all have heard and responded to his message.

Either with faith or rejection.

Jesus’ love, mercy and grace are extended for all people at all times.

It isn’t limited to the elite few.

It isn’t reserved for a select number.

Or a specific gender, nationality, or ethnic group.

God wants us to know that he his justice and mercy are for everyone.

And guess what?

We are invited to Join him in proclaiming this mission.

We are not only invited to join him, we are commanded to join him.

It is our duty and privileged to tell all people about the love, mercy, and grace found at the foot of the cross.

We are to teach people about our Savior.

And as we do that and people respond they will be transformed into a new Creation.

They will be restored by God’s Servant, Jesus.

Isaiah 42:5–9 CSB

5 This is what God, the Lord, says— who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it— 6 “I am the Lord. I have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will hold you by your hand. I will watch over you, and I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, 7 in order to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those sitting in darkness from the prison house. 8 I am the Lord. That is my name, and I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. 9 The past events have indeed happened. Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they occur.”

God’s Restoring Servant

This section begins with a recognition of who God is.

He is the one that created everything.

He is the Lord over all that we can see.

When the creator of all things is speaking we better listen up. He has something important to say. He never minces words.

He reminds us of his power and glory.

He is the creator. He gave life. He brings justice. He sustains all things.

We can't limit God no matter how hard we try.

He gives breath and spirit to all who inhabit the earth.

This establishes his care and compassion for people. He cares for them b/c he creates and sustains them. He provides life for them.

Life and breath are both gifts from God to his creation.

Because he is the giver of life he is the ruler of life and has sympathy for his creation.

His sympathy and care for creation are why he wants to establish HIS justice on the earth.

So why does this begin with God as the creator and giver of life?

Because what’s going to happen next can only be done by the one with immeasurable power.

The restoration of Creation can only be done by the one that created.

First, God talks to Jesus, the servant, again.

Jesus has been called and chosen for a righteous purpose.

A purpose only accomplished by God himself.

He will be a new covenant for the people.

Language of covenant is important.

Covenants are established throughout the OT.

Covenants are similar to contracts.

They are a little more than that, but for the sake of this sermon.

Think of them as contracts.

God deals with his people in covenants.

The covenant that the people of Israel are living under during this prophecy is the Mosaic Covenant.

That is they are living under the law of Moses.

They are stripped from their land and live in captivity b/c they had disobeyed and rebelled against God’s perfect Law.

That was one of the consequences for disobedience.

But God is telling his Servant, that he is going to make him a covenant for the people.

This new covenant is told to Israel in

Jer 31:31-34 “31 “Look, the days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 This one will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—my covenant that they broke even though I am their master”—the Lord’s declaration. 33 “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the Lord’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin.”

And is fulfilled by Jesus at the Lord’s Supper in

Luke 22:19-20 “19 And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

Also this passage from Jer 31 is quoted in Hebrews 8:8-12.

Following it up with Heb 8.13 “13 By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away.”

Jesus’ covenant is better than the covenant of old.

It’s a covenant based on the Perfect Servant and not on the works of people.

Jesus is the one that binds us to God.

He is the one that draws us near.

He is the one that keeps us and sustains us.

And how is he going to establish this new covenant by being a light to the nations.

Jesus sheds light on the darkness around us.

He radiates the holiness and righteousness of God.

He draws people to himself as a moth is drawn to the light.

Jn. 1:4-5 “4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.”

Jn 8:12 “12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.””

Jn 12:46 “46 I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me would not remain in darkness.”

Jesus illuminates the path for those that want to follow after him.

He shows us how to get to God.

How to love God.

How to live for God.

His light brings blessing, guidance, and salvation to his own.

Aside from him there is no way to the Father.

He is the beacon pointing us to what is good, right, holy, and just.

This new covenant is going to bring light into the dark world.

God is committed, empowered, and purposeful in completing his promises.

Jesus, the perfect servant is coming to fulfill the promise God has made.

He is going to bring light and life to the darkest chambers of the heart.

He is going to shine that light on the evil of the world.

Expose wickedness. The wickedness of man’s heart.

He is also going to use that light to set free those held in bondage to darkness.

Twitter-Light exposes the truth. It reveals both beauty and horror. Clean and filthy. Truth always calls what is exposed by its right name.

That’s the job of light to expose the wrongs and reveal the truth.

The truth is we are all broken.

We are all in need of a transformation.

We are all unholy, wicked, and unclean in the sight of God.

Stained by sin. The sin of pride, lust, greed, selfishness. You name it, we're stained by it.

But Jesus brings the light to expose.

It exposes us for who we really are. For how we have failed.

IT also reveals to us the way to be cleansed. It reveals to us the way to be made right. It reveals to us the truth of God’s servant. Jesus came to set the captives free. That he came to bring justice. That he came to save those who are lost. He comes to restore, transform, and bring hope to those in the dungeon of despair.

Jesus brings to life those who are dead living in darkness.

And how Jesus testifies to the light is by the works that he does.

How he proves that he is who he says he is is through the works that are done through him.

So what kind of miraculous works is he going to do?

He is going to open blind eyes, set prisoners free, and bring those in darkness out into the light.

These are both physical actions and spiritual ones done by Jesus.

In John 9, we read about Jesus restoring sight to the blind man.

What’s interesting about that is he uses mud to do it.

So the creator of the world uses his creation to restore a man’s sight.

Not only that, but man is made from the dust of the earth.

And Jesus uses the dust of the earth to restore his sight.

The man who was made whole stated about Jesus

Jn 9.32-33 “32 Throughout history no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he wouldn’t be able to do anything.””

Jesus opened this man’s physical eyes, but that wasn’t all.

After this miraculous event, the man proclaimed that Jesus was Lord.

He chose to follow after Jesus.

Not only was he made well physically, he was made whole spiritually as well.

When it comes to prisoners being set free and brought out of the darkness this is more of a spiritual metaphor.

Jesus wants to set us free from sin.

He wants to bring us out of the prison of sin and shame.

Jesus tells us in Jn 8:34 “34 Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.”

We are bound to sin if we sin.

And the bad news is that we all sin.

We all fall short.

We all rebel against God.

We all try to make a name for ourselves.

But Jesus is good and wants to set us free.

Jn 8:36 “36 So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.”

We can be freed from sin.

We can be freed from bondage.

In fact, that’s a reason that Jesus was sent by God.

To free the captives from their bondage.

Isn’t it amazing that even as we rebel against a holy and righteous God, he offers us a way to be restored into a relationship with him?

Pause.

Praise God he is merciful.

Is 42:8-9 “8 I am the Lord. That is my name, and I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. 9 The past events have indeed happened. Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they occur.””

God deserves the praise honor and glory for what he has done.

God is about God’s business, God’s Glory, and God’s mission.

That mission began with Jesus Christ in eternity past and we are called and chosen to aid him in that mission.

When we become followers of Jesus our affections should change. Our heart should change and we should want to be about our Father’s business.

What is our Father’s Business? Salvation, Redemption, Justice, Love, His Kingdom

When Jesus came he inaugurated his New Kingdom. The Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of the Father.

When he saves us we are a new creation. The New is Here.

Think about it this way. When Jesus came, he began the 8th day of creation.

He brings new life to this broken creation.

In this new life, we should partake in his Kingdom Building.

Telling others about the good news of NEW LIFE.

The former things have gone away and the new things are here.

We Glorify God when we partake in his mission.

When we proclaim the grace given us we glorify the king.

That is our calling that is our mission.

That is how we can help to spread hope to the hopeless. To help restore the broken. To help bring about God’s justice.

People will not feel the fullness of hope, joy, love, and peace outside the good news of the gospel.

We need to spread it. We need to live it. We need to let others know how the gospel has transformed us.

And when we do that we are rejoicing in God’s Salvation.

We should desire that others rejoice in his salvation too.

In fact he tells us that we should.

Isaiah 42:10–13 CSB

10 Sing a new song to the Lord; sing his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea with all that fills it, you coasts and islands with your inhabitants. 11 Let the desert and its cities shout, the settlements where Kedar dwells cry aloud. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy; let them cry out from the mountaintops. 12 Let them give glory to the Lord and declare his praise in the coasts and islands. 13 The Lord advances like a warrior; he stirs up his zeal like a soldier. He shouts, he roars aloud, he prevails over his enemies.

Rejoicing in God’s Salvation

One of the things I do often in my house.

Or in the office.

Or in the car.

Is bust out in Song.

You can ask Corrie and the Kids I will sing about anything and everything.

The lyrics are usually pretty poor and sometimes silly, but I love to sing.

I’m not great at it, but I do love it.

God is telling us to sing a new song because of his salvation.

Because of his deliverance.

Because of his Servant.

We Rejoice b/c of his grace and mercy.

That’s one of the reasons we gather together on Sundays is to praise God in song together.

Singing and rejoicing b/c of who God is and what he has done should be an intricate part of your following after him.

The bible has a whole book of songs, we call them the Psalms.

They are to be sung and used in praise and worship of God.

Songs stir up something within our hearts and minds

It stirs up our emotions, helps us focus, and best of all tells God how we really feel.

Isaiah: A Commentary 2. Exposition

The effect of the hymn is to involve the reader also in rendering praise to this great creating and redeeming God who is far from being a distant theological construct, but who is even now worthy of all praise (Rev. 5:9; 14:3)—the Lord, both the first and the last!

This new song that we are to sing is to praise him for the new things he brings.

New Covenant.

New life.

New Creation.

We sing in joy.

Celebration.

Gratitude.

We honor God when we voice our praises to him.

He is calling all people to worship him from the middle of the desert to the highest of mountains.

In the middle of the jungle, to the middle of the city.

In Small Town America.

All people who experience his restoration and forgiveness are to rejoice in song.

And we rejoice b/c as v.13 states our God is a warrior.

This is a call back to Exodus 15.

After God frees his people from bondage in Egypt, Moses composes and sings a song about our mighty warrior God.

Who Fights for his people.

Who conquers his enemies.

Who hears the cries of the oppressed, downtrodden, and depressed.

And This is why we sing.

This is why we rejoice.

Because we have a God that fights for us.

We have a God that bled for us.

We have a God that stands victorious over our enemies.

The greatest enemies of sin and death.

And our new song celebrates the Lamb that was slain

Rev. 5:9 “9 And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

So let me ask you.

Can you sing a new song to the Lord?

Have you experienced his love, mercy, and grace?

Do you have burdens that you need to take to Jesus?

Are you overwhelmed, over-stressed, and exhausted?

Do you feel broken and hopeless?

Jesus, God’s perfect servant, came so that he could bring you freedom.

To bring you hope.

All you need to do is trust him.

Follow after him and he will make you new.

He will restore your heart.

He will restore your soul.

He will give you a new song to sing.

He is calling out to you

Will you answer him?